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NORMANDY: A Lavish Tapestry of Time
September 07, 2020 - September 14, 2020

Detail of the Bayeux tapestry
Traditional cottage in Pays d'Auge
Etretat
Fish Market in Trouville
Omaha Beach
The Mont-Saint-Michel

A Lavish Tapestry of Time

8 DAYS, 7 NIGHTS

September 07, 2020 - September 14, 2020

From the earliest Viking conquerors to the impressionist artists, Normandy has always fascinated visitors with the beauty of its countryside and the importance of its role in history. What better way to discover Normandy than with your own native Norman guide!
Its lush pastoral landscape dotted with apple trees, half-timbered farms, castles and magnificent beaches also served as the backdrop for dramatic events that shaped the course of history. Your guide Alain Lemennicier will introduce you to the many faces of Normandy that define the beauty and unique character of his native province.

NORMANDY 2020

  • HIGHLIGHTS:
    • Discover the World War II D-Day landing sites.
    • Visit Mont-Saint-Michel on its rocky Channel Island.
    • Travel back in time to the 11th century as you explore Rouen, Falaise, Bayeux and Caen, towns that evoke the exploits of William the Conqueror.
    • See the rich Normandy farms that produce some of France's finest cheeses, and certainly its best cider.
    • See the diverse landscapes that inspired paintings of Monet, Millet and Seurat and writings of such authors as Flaubert, Maupassant and Proust.

Day 1: September 07 (Lodging in Honfleur)

  • Arrival day,
    • Your guides will meet you in Paris.
    • On our drive to Honfleur we will stop in Giverny and pass by Rouen.
    • Welcome apéritif and orientation.

Day 2: September 08 (Lodging in Honfleur)

A day in the landscapes of the impressionists

  • Morning
    • After breakfast we will visit Honfleur and its picturesque port, treasure to the artists of the 19th century, native town of Eugène Boudin, Monet's inspiration and teacher, and of the composer Eric Satie. Walk through favorite landscapes of the impressionists and discover their outdoor atelier.
  • Afternoon
    • Fécamp, Étretat, Le Havre
  • Evening
    • Dinner in Honfleur.

Day 3: September 09 (Lodging in Bayeux)

Drive and walk in the rolling hills of the Pays d'Auge, famous for its apple orchards, fine cider and the powerful apple brandy known as "calvados."

  • Morning
    • Visit the charming village of Beuvron-en-Auge and the seaside resorts of Trouville, Deauville and Cabourg. Final stop, Dives-sur-Mer, picturesque village of half-timbered houses, where William the Conqueror set sail for England in 1066.Drive and walk in the rolling hills of the Pays d'Auge, famous for its apple orchards, fine cider and the powerful apple brandy known as "calvados."
  • Lunch
  • Afternoon
    • Visit to the 11th-century tapestry, a nearly 230 ft long embroidered cloth, depicting the decisive Battle of Hastings in 1066, where William the Conqueror became King of England.
  • Late afternoon
    • Arrive in Bayeux, settle into your hotel, rest.

Day 4: September 10 (Lodging in Bayeux)

In the footsteps of William the Conqueror

  • Morning
    • Drive to Falaise to visit the birth place of Willams.
  • Lunch
  • Afternoon
    • Guided tour of historic Bayeux and free time to explore Bayeux.
  • Evening
    • Dinner

Day 5: September 11 (Lodging in Bayeux)

Caen

  • Morning
    • Guided tour of Caen, with a visit to the spectacular Abbaye aux Hommes and the Abbaye aux Dames.
  • Lunch
  • Afternoon
    • Tour of the Mémorial Museum in Caen.
  • Evening
    • Dinner

Day 6: September 12 (Lodging in Bayeux)

D-Day Landing Beaches of World War II.

  • Morning
    • Explore the D-Day Landing Beaches, starting at Arromanches , site of the famous WWII Mulberry temporary harbour that was towed across the Channel as part of the invasion force. Continue to the rugged cliffs near Port-en-Bessin for spectacular views of the beaches.
  • Lunch
  • Afternoon
    • Walk the path to Omaha Beach and St-Laurent-sur-Mer, site of the American cemetery featured in "Saving Private Ryan," and Pointe du Hoc, one of the most telling memorials to the fighting, with its bomb craters and intact battery bunkers. See the steep cliffs stormed by Rangers in their struggle to destroy the six-gun battery.
  • Late afternoon
    • Visit the German cemetery of La Cambe to contrast with the American cemetery and get a better feeling about the 1945 Normandy invasion.

Day 7: September 13 (Lodging in Bayeux)

Mont-Saint-Michel

  • Morning
    • Stop in Villedieu-les-Poêles, for 400 years a center for copper and brass ware, and Saint-Lô, vital communications center in the Battle of Normandy.
  • Lunch
  • Afternoon
    • Our destination is Pontorson, but we'll stop en route to visit Avranches to enjoy breathtaking views of the Mont-Saint-Michel, since the 11th century a significant site of religious meditation and hermitage.
    • Arrive at Mont-Saint-Michel. Explore the island, then tour the abbey.

Day 8: September 14

Au revoir to Normandy.

  • Morning
    • We will drive you to the train station, where you can take the train to Paris or to your next destination.

What our travelers say about Normandy

  • "Good tour. Highlight was the visit to Caen's Abbey for Men and Abbey for Women, with excellent guide."
    • A. S., Ohio
  • I would absolutely recommend this tour to a friend. Meals and excursions were exceptional... Guides extremely knowledgeable, conscientious and fun to be with... I especially enjoyed the tours of the countryside, the picnics and outdoor markets.
    • S. M. Florida
  • Judie and Alain were both wonderful guides! Appreciated the diverse gifts each brought to our adventure. Judie's empathy, charm and sense of humor lubricated all our activities... Alain's driving precision and expertise allowed us access to places where large tour buses dare not go! Thanks so much for a memorable week. ....
    • E. N. Saudi Arabia